Mark Jansen, guitarist & songwriter for Holland’s symphonic metal band Epica, checks in with a new album update plus a headlining North American 2010 tour announcement:

“It’s been a great time at Gate Studio in Wolfsburg [Germany] recording Design Your Universe. We worked with the same team [producer Sascha Paeth] and we worked for the first time together with our new guitar player Isaac Delahaye [formerly of God Dethroned]. This made a difference and made things very refreshing because we could add some new elements because of him. We have worked harder than ever on the details. We preferred to spend some extra money on great additions which brings our songs to a higher level instead of leaving things like they are. The result is that we worked so hard on this album that we hardly can listen to the album anymore. Now it’s time to let it go and release it to humanity. We were already very happy with The Divine Conspiracy but I’m sure this new album tops that one.

“The album title, Design Your Universe, deals with new breakthroughs in quantum physics. It proves that we are all connected to each other on subatomic level. Also, it shows that we can create or at least influence matter with our thoughts… a very interesting fact. Because it changes everything for us, our whole worldview collapses once you accept these facts and integrate them in your lives. So this had to become the new album title.

“We’ll be headlining a North American tour in 2010 featuring Dååth and Blackguard. I can’t wait for this tour as it’s a strong package!”

About the band’s new material, Epica singer Simone Simons has previously stated, “It is so exciting! I love the new songs and can’t wait to play them live.”

Tour dates:

01/26/2010 Jaxx Nightclub West Springfield, VA

01/27/2010 Trocadero Theater Philadelphia, PA

01/29/2010 The Blender Theatre at Gramercy New York, NY

01/30/2010 The Palladium Worcester, MA

01/31/2010 Club Soda Montreal, QUEBEC – CANADA

02/01/2010 MOD Club Toronto, ONTARIO – CANADA

02/03/2010 Peabody’s Cleveland, OH

02/04/2010 The Pearl Room Mokena IL

02/05/2010 The Rave Milwaukee, VI

02/06/2010 Station 4 St. Paul, MN

02/08/2010 Royal Albert Arms Winnipeg, MANITOBA – CANADA

02/10/2010 Starlite Room Edmonton, ALBERTA – CANADA

02/11/2010 Warehouse Calgary, ALBERTA – CANADA

02/13/2010 Sugar Nightclub Victoria, B.C. – CANADA

02/14/2010 El Corazon Seattle, WA

02/15/2010 Hawthorne Theater Portland, OR

02/17/2010 Key Club West Hollywood, CA

02/19/2010 U.B.’s Bar Mesa, AZ

02/20/2010 The Rock – Tucson, AZ

02/22/2010 Bluebird Theater Denver, CO

02/23/2010 Marquee Tulsa, OK

02/24/2010 Scout Bar Houston, TX

02/25/2010 Scout Bar – San Antonio, TX

02/27/2010 Volume 11 Raleigh, NC

02/28/2010 The Masquerade Atlanta, GA

Exclusive pre-sale tickets for the tour are available online beginning July 20th at http://www.EnterTheVault.com through August 19th. On August 20th, tickets go on sale through all normal ticketing outlets.

Mark Jansen, guitarist & songwriter for Holland’s symphonic metal band Epica, checks in with a new album update plus a headlining North American 2010 tour announcement:

“It’s been a great time at Gate Studio in Wolfsburg [Germany] recording Design Your Universe. We worked with the same team [producer Sascha Paeth] and we worked for the first time together with our new guitar player Isaac Delahaye [formerly of God Dethroned]. This made a difference and made things very refreshing because we could add some new elements because of him. We have worked harder than ever on the details. We preferred to spend some extra money on great additions which brings our songs to a higher level instead of leaving things like they are. The result is that we worked so hard on this album that we hardly can listen to the album anymore. Now it’s time to let it go and release it to humanity. We were already very happy with The Divine Conspiracy but I’m sure this new album tops that one.

“The album title, Design Your Universe, deals with new breakthroughs in quantum physics. It proves that we are all connected to each other on subatomic level. Also, it shows that we can create or at least influence matter with our thoughts… a very interesting fact. Because it changes everything for us, our whole worldview collapses once you accept these facts and integrate them in your lives. So this had to become the new album title.

“We’ll be headlining a North American tour in 2010 featuring Daath and Blackguard. I can’t wait for this tour as it’s a strong package!”

About the band’s new material, Epica singer Simone Simons has previously stated, “It is so exciting! I love the new songs and can’t wait to play them live.”

Exclusive pre-sale tickets for the tour are available online beginning July 20th at http://www.EnterTheVault.com through August 19th. On August 20th, tickets go on sale through all normal ticketing outlets.